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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Children Posting On YouTube Discussion Threads- A Recipe For Danger

Edited by Azizi Powell

An article entitled "Home Computer Access and Internet Use" http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=home-computer-access indicates that "In 2011, almost six out of ten children ages three to 17 used the Internet at home (58 percent), nearly six times as many as in 1997 (11 percent). Eighty-three percent had a computer at home, up from 15 percent in 1984.

Home access to computers and the Internet has expanded dramatically over the last two decades, and the ways children, youth, and adults use these tools are in rapid flux, as new technologies are developed. For example, Internet-enabled devices now include not only computers, but televisions, electronic books, and other handheld devices such as music players and cell-phones. Increasingly, the lines are blurred between computers and many other types of electronic media.

Young people are most likely to use a computer for social networking, playing games, and watching videos"...

Neither Facebook nor YouTube discussion threads aren't meant to be a safe space for children, But it may be more dangerous for children to write comments on YouTube discussion threads than it is for them to write comments on their family's and friends Facebook walls. Presumably, if and when children post on their parents' or their older siblings' Facebook pages, it is more likely that they are talking to people they know. I'm concerned that children may consider posting comments on YouTube music discussion threads to be a safe way of interacting with people who like the same music that they do. This may be particularly worrisome when those music videos are geared to adults and teens as well as to children. Take for example this Hip Hop dance style video:

@DJLILMAN973 - SUPA M. THEME ( Team Lilman Anthem 2 ) OFFICIAL VIDEO

DJ LILMAN, Published on Dec 30, 2014
-snip-
Unlike some other Hip Hop dance centered videos, there's no cursing in that song, and there are no sexually explicit references or violent content in the song or in the video. Three young girls are included among the dancers in this video, which might further suggest to children viewing the video that it is okay for them to post comments about the video and engage in conversations with others about the video and/or the song. That video's discussion thread contains some cursing and I'm concerned about children happening upon those comments. But I'm even more concerned about the possibility children being lured into dangerous situations by someone posting on that discussion thread. Lately I've noticed more instances of people on YouTube discussion threads posting their phone numbers. I've also found more instances of people engaging in chit chat with other commenters, which wouldn't be so bad if people like Subway's former spokesperson weren't out and about in the world preying on kids.

Here are some examples that I've culled from that Team Lilman Anthem 2 discussion thread - with the reminder that I don't have any problem with that particular song or video- It's the climate we live that I have a problem with.

Christian Jones, February 2015
"+Saleena Jackson you are hot by the way this Chris I'm 17"

****
keyyah hart, February 2015
"Lol i got it me nd my friend was doing this all day we dont know all of it but we know the beginning we still learning the end part to clappers remix"
**
Bestie Best friend, February 2015
Reply
"+keyyah hart if u want I can teach u the whole thing

**
May 2015
Lakale Saxton
"stop saying so little girl and you probley look like a dummy"

**
Gionna Thompson
"Gionna"

**
Sanaa Rogers
Reply
"+Lakale Saxton they are not a dummy dummy"

**
Layl L
Reply
"+Sanaa Rogers mind ur biz"

-end of comment examples-

Given the increase in internet use in homes, schools, and elsewhere in the community, it's probably a losing battle to try to keep children off of YouTube video music sites that appeal to their age group as well as to teens and adults.

YouTube has a prompt that people should report spam or abuse. But I don't think that YouTube is talking about the kind of abuse that worries me. My position is that adults need to monitor what their children and the children they are responsible for do online. Furthermore, we need to talk to children about the dangers of online social networking. Adults need to tell children that recording artists, dancers, and others who are in YouTube videos or say that they are in YouTube videos aren't their friends. Furthermore, children should be taught that people who post comments online aren't their friends. They shouldn't engage in chit chat with them and they should never share personal information with them. If children do post online comments, they should ignore people they don't know who try to engage them in conversation.

I'm interested in your comments and suggestions about this subject. How do we help children protect themselves online?

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About Me

I'm an African American mother, grandmother, & retired human services administrator. For more than forty years I have shared adapted West African stories with audiences in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.
I have four blogspots: pancocojams, zumalayah, cocojams2, and .Civil Rights Songs. Much of the content of these blogs were previously found on my cocojams and jambalayah cultural websites. I curate all of these blogs on a voluntary basis.
Each of these blogs have the primary goal of raising awareness about cultural aspects of African American culture and of other Black cultures throughout the world, particularly in regards to music & dance traditions.
Viewer comments are welcome on my blogspots.